ORA Grants Analyst 1, Full Time

This position supports a robust grant and contract portfolio within the Office of Research Administration (ORA), ensuring pre- and post-award requirements are met. The Grants Analyst 1 monitors sponsored research accounts from award setup through closeout, adhering to University, state, and federal policies, and plays a key role in post-award compliance.

Responsibilities

• Assists with or performs grant-related post-award functions, including award setup, budget distributions, expense monitoring, periodic invoicing, and financial reporting.
• Performs grant closeout functions, including reconciliations, final invoices, and final reporting.
• Ensures budgets are not overspent, grant periods are adhered to, costs are allowable under the award, and accounting records are maintained in good order.
• Acts as a liaison for faculty and staff to various central support offices.
• Assists with the time and effort reporting system, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
• Communicates with fiscal contacts at funding sources for problem resolution and information gathering.
• Maintains knowledge of Federal regulations related to Research Administration, including Uniform Guidance, Cost Accounting Standards, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and major Federal funding agency guidelines.
• Assists in the completion of all aspects of the annual audit report on federal awards.
• Monitors sponsored research accounts for awards funded by state and local government, for-profit, and foreign sponsors based on assigned portfolios.
• Approves labor distribution transfers, reconciliations, and re-budgeting, including associated communications with customers.
• Serves as a backup to approve Payroll Accounting Adjustments and Journal Entries, including associated communications, reconciliations, and re-budgeting.
• Ensures high-quality, efficient service to the research community and participates in innovative customer service initiatives.
• Assesses needs and aids in the resolution of matters in conjunction with the principal investigator or department administrator.
• Creates journal entries to allocate residuals, overdrafts, and/or overhead discrepancies to departmental accounts as a result of reconciliations or closeouts.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures, safeguarding University assets.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum 2 years of relevant experience; university research administration experience preferred.
• Successful completion of Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA), or Certified Research Administrator (CRA) status or equivalent designation is highly preferred.
• Any appropriate combination of relevant education, experience, and/or certifications may be considered.

Skills

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Federal regulations related to Research Administration, including OMB Uniform Guidance, Cost Accounting Standards, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and major Federal funding agency guidelines.
• Excellent computer skills, including proficiency in MS Excel (sorting, pivot tables, filtering, basic formulas).
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate and summarize numerical data into an understandable narrative.
• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral form with a diverse group of individuals.
• Demonstrated experience using institutional systems.
• General knowledge of office procedures and operations.
• Skill in data entry with minimal errors.
• Ability to accurately prepare and maintain records, files, reports, and correspondence.
• Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
• Ability to analyze, organize, and prioritize work under pressure while meeting deadlines.
• Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.

Full-time staff position.